Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques

Optical imaging and spectroscopy use light — particularly in the near-infrared range, where tissue is relatively transparent — to probe biological structure and function non-invasively, from mapping oxygen levels in the brain to tracking molecular targets in living tissue. Because light interacts differently with blood, water, and cellular structures, techniques like diffuse optical tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy can reconstruct functional images of deep tissue without ionizing radiation, making them attractive for continuous bedside monitoring and pediatric neuroimaging. Translating raw optical measurements into reliable physiological information requires accurate models of how photons scatter and absorb as they travel through tissue, which is where computational tools like Monte Carlo simulation become essential. Active work centers on improving spatial resolution deep in tissue, developing targeted fluorescent agents for molecular imaging, and integrating optical methods with modalities like MRI to combine their complementary strengths.

Works

53,057

Total citations

791,503

Keywords

Near-Infrared SpectroscopyOptical ImagingTissue Optical PropertiesFluorescence Molecular ImagingDiffuse Optical TomographyBrain Oxygenation Monitoring